Automatic antenna system



June 23, 1925.

J. H. HAMMOND, JR

AUTOMATIC ANTENNA SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet Original Filed July 9. 19320 QZIiMOmE HIS A Nam/Er June 23, 1925.

J. H. HAMMOND, JR

AUTOMATIC ANTENNA SYSTEM nal Filed July 9. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2224182 wZEEuhW I NVENTOR Maud ms ATTORNEY Press Jun 23,1925.

sTATEs 51-;

JOHN nfAYs HAMMOND, an, or GLOUCESTER, MAssAoHusEr'rs.

AUToMATI'c ANTENNA SYSTEM.

Application filed'iuly 9, 1920, Serial No. 395,018. Renewed August 29, 19%;

To all wlzom it may'concem: it is included in a tuned circuit having :1 Be it known that I. JOHN HAYS HAM- secondary coil 16 inductively coupled to a Mom), Jr.. a citizen of the United States, primary coil 17 which forms part of an open 55 and a resident of Gloucester, county'of Esaerial circuit grounded at 18 and including 5 sex, State of Massachusetts, have invented a battery 20 shunted by a condenser 21 and certain new and useful Improvements in a conductor 22 connected to a terminal 23. Automatic Antenna Systems, of which the- For the purpose of receiving transmitted following is a specification. radiant energy signals a plurality of an- Some of the objects of the present inventennae are employed, in the pres t illustra- 10 tion are to provide means for maintaining a tion three are shown, 24, 25 an 26, supwireless receiving apparatus in a receptive ported respectively at different locations on condition after an antenna to which it is the superstructure of a marine body 27 and responsive has been grounded by accident or so arranged and connected that but one at a 65 shell fire: to provide means for automattime is responsive to transmitted signals.

ically substituting, an operative antenna for- In the preferred form the antenna 24: is nor-- an antenna which has been rendered inopmally responsive and is connected by a-lead erative by grounding; to provide a receiving 30 through suitable deck insulators to one apparatus havingaplurality of antenna one side of a tuning coil 31, the other side of' of \\'.l1lC-l1iS normally operative for receiving which is connected by a conductor 32 to a purposes and the remainingantennm inopcondenser 33 and from the condenser 33 to erative, and means for automatically substia fixed terminal 34 located in relatively close tilting for and rendering operative one of proximity to the terminal 23. The two terthe remaining antenna in case the operative minals 23 and 34 are normally bridged by a 5' antenna becomes grounded to provide movable conducting arm 35 which is pivoted 25 means for automatically substituting a to the terminal 23. A spring 36 is connected sound wave responsive means for an an at one end to the arm 35 and at the other tenna responsive meansin case the antenna end to a tixed base 37, the arrangement bemeans is rendered inoperative; and'to proin'g. such that the spring 36 is in tension so vide other improvements as will hereinafter when the arm 35 is in its normal position 30 appear. bridging the terminals 23 and 34. An in- In the acconupanying drawings, Fig. 1 sulating strip 40 subdiyides the arm 35 so represents diagrammatically a wireless is that it cannot around through the spring 36 ceiving system embodying one form of the and a like insulation 41 electrically separates at present invention; and Fig. 2 represents diathe terminal 34 from the base 37' upon which grammatically another form of the invenit is mounted. The arm 35 is held in 115% tion. normal position by apivoted locking arma- Referring to Fig.1 of the drawings, a ture 4L2 which is notched at one end to rereceiving apparatus 10 of any well known ceive theend of the arm and at its other so form, responsive to impulses of radiant en end is connected by a spring 43 with afix ed '9 orgy, is graphically represented and arpart in a manner to retain the arm 35 in its ranged to control a desired mechanism 11 bridging position.

such ascthe steeringcontrol of a torpedo, The armature 42 is arranged to be aetu- I vessel or other marine body. Thismecha atedby a magnet 44 which is included in a as nism 11 is also arranged to -be independently shunt circuit 4a around the condenser 33 controlled by a receiving apparatus 12 of and when energized causes the armature 42 any well known form responsiveto sound to release the arm 35. ln the path of movewaves, the apparatus 12 being operatively. ment of the arm 35 there is a fixed terminal connected to a receiving diaphragm 13, here- 46 insulated from the base 37 and connected shown as located in the body of a trailer 14, by a conductor 47 with a terminal 48. though it may be located at any suitable The antenna 25 is connected by a leadbfi place on the torpedo or vessel itself through suitable deck insulators to one side I For operating the receiving apparatus 10, of a tuning coil-51, the other side of which is connected by a conductor 52 to a con denser 53 and from the condenser 53 to a fixed terminal 54 located in relatively close proximity to the'terminal The gene 'al. operation and arrangemei'lt of the parts 'is the some as that described in connection with the antenna 24 and therefore detail description is unnecessary, the parts being identified as follows: pivoted conducting arm 55, spring 56, base 57, insulation and 61, pivot-ed locking armature 62, spring 63, mag net 6 1-, shunt circuit 35, and fixed terminal 66 connected by conductor 67 with a terminal The antenna 536 is connected by a lead 70 through suitable deck 'insuhltlju's to one side of a. tuning coil 71, the other side of which is connected by a conductor 72 to a condenser 73, and from the condenser 73.to a fixed terminal 74 located in close proxin'lity. to the terminal 68. The general operation and ar-- ran-gcment of the parts is the same as that heretofore described, and ti Ly may he tiiied as follows: i oted conducting arm 75, Spring: 76, base 77, insulation and 81, pivoted locking armature 532, spring 83, nine"- net 84, shunt circuit 85, and two tixcd tcrminals 86 and 87 connected respectively by conducting loads 90 and 91 to the radiosonic receiving apparatus 12 and. sound wave receiver 13. Normally the terminals 68 and 74 are bridged by the arm 75, thus leaving the radiosonic, circuithroltcn at the terminals 86 and In the operation of the iorm of the in vention-shoii'n' in Fig: 1, the antenna 24 is normally connectcdto the ground 19 hccause of the bridging position of the arm 35 and the incoming signals will he received by the circuit 141 to actuate the steering control in the required manner. lf't the vessel is under fire and a shell should cause the antenna 24- to be grounded, or it tor any other reason the antenna 2 1 becomes grounded. then a circuit; will he closed from the antenna 21 to the ground 13 including: the battery 20, arm terminal 34. magnet Winding 4-4. to the coil 3.1 and the lead 30 hach to the antenna 24-. This energizes the magnet 44'ai'id shifts the armature so that the arm 35 is released and moves. under the influence of the spring 36. to. a position bridging the contacts 25% and 46, thus breaking the circuit of the antenna 24 and closing the circuit from the antenna 25 to the cgrouud 18. The last circuit includes lead 50. tuning: coil 51. condenser terminal 54. arui terminal 48 conductor 47. terminal 16. arm 35, terminal 23, conductor condenser 21 and trai'isforn'icr coil 31. Any incoming signals will thcreforc'bereceived hy t ansformer coils 17 and 16 and will operate the receiving apparatus 10 as described.

1 71 case the substituted antcnna 25 become grounded it will close the shoull c t-cu it to the ground 18 through the battery 20, arm 35, terminal 46, arm 55,terminal 54, magnet winding 6%, tuning coil 51 and lead 50 to the antenna 25, thereby energizing the magnet 61 and causing the armatuie 62 to release the arm 55 which moves, under the action of the spring 56, to break the circuit including terminal 54 and bridges the terminals 48 and 66. This connects the antenna 26 with the ground 18 through the lead 70, tuning coil 71, condenher 73, terminal '74, arm 75. terminal 68, conduct0r 767, terminal. 57, arm 55, conductor 47, terminal 46, arm 35, terminal 23, and condensers 21 to trans'tt'ormer coil 17. Any incoming signals will therefore he received by the coils 17 and 16 and operate the receiving apparatus 10 to control the steering as desired.

In case the last substituted antenna 26 should become grounded, a circuit will be closed to the ground through the battery 20 h Way of the three arms 35, 55 and 75, tl'iroluzh the winding of magnet 84, tuning coil 71 and lead 70. This will energize the magnet to draw its armature 82 in a direction to release the arm 75, which is then moved hy the spring 76 to break flieantenna circuit at the terminals 68 and 74 and bridge the terminals 86 and 87 to close the circuit including: the radiosonic receiving" diaphragm l3 and the receiving apparatus 19 by which the sterling mechanism is now controlled in response to sound Waves.

Referring to 2 of the drawings onother form 01. the invention 1S represented dia ammaticall'v wherein the conducting h u leads 32, 52 and '72 from the respective tun- 1 and 26 are "submerged respectively in conducting material such as mercury 92 contained in suitable receptacles 93. 94 and 95 made oi insulating material. The receptathe 93 is closed at tho hottom by a conductingz'plug 96 ot lusililc material which is electrically hondcd to the conductor 22 and leads to the hattcry 30 and shunt circuit of condenser 21, the receiving circuits being completed as dcscrihcd in'c nection with 1. The receptacle Q3 issuitably supported within a. container ,97 having" a pocket 98 formed in the bottom portion, through the Walls of which two terminals 100 and 101. are led, the former having a conductor 102 connected to the conductor The receptacles 94 and 35 are similarly constructed being respectively provided with fusible conducting plugs 103 and 104, containers 105 and 106 having pockets 107, and 108. the pocltet 107 having two terminals 110 and 111 and the pocket 108 having two terminals 112 and 113. The terminal 101 is connected by a conductor 114 to the fits plug 103 and has a. branch 115 connected to the terminal 110, The terminal 11;; coils 31, 51 and 71 of the antennae 24, 25

receptacle 93 to run into masses receivin sound Wave device D v The'general operation of this form of the invention is similar to that described for Fig. 1 the antenna 24 being connected to the ground 18 through the tuning coil 31, t3, fusible plug 96, Wire 22 and condenser 21 to the primary coil 17. Signals are thus receivable by the antenna 24- to operate the steering mechanism 11 as previously explained.

It the antenna 24 becomes grounded, the battery 20 is short circuits-d. through the which melts and allows the conductor in the the pocket 98 of the container 97. This breaks the circuit from the antenna 24 and closes a circuit through the terminals 100 and 101 whereby the antenna 25 is rendered operative by con-- nection with the ground 18 to receive signals for. controlling the steering mechanism.

In case the antenna 25 becomes grounded, the battery 20 will he short circuitsd through tie fusible plug 103 which melts, allowing the mercury to run into the pocket fusible plug 96 I mercury 92 or other liquid 107 of the container 105, thus conf-iectingv the antenna 2-6 with the ground 18 by way of terminals 110 and 111, sothat incoming signals will operate the steering mechanism 11. v r C Should the antenna 546 become grounded, the battery 20 will be short circuited through the fusible plug-10a which melts and allows themercury to run into the ocket 108 of the container 106, thus breakmg the antenna circuit andclosing terminals 112 and 1l8 to complete a circuit by way of conductors' 90 and 91 to bring the iadiosonic or sound wave receiving appa- Y eatus into commission.

Having thus described my invention, I

receiving apparatus.

-'.1 ..In a-wireless receiving system, a plutenna to said receiving. apparatus to receive signals, and means rendered operative by the grounding of said connected antenna for connecting another of said-antennae to said system, a plu- '3. in. aw-Ueless ince'iuinu a apparatus re i T c5 antennae {fascism rendered inoperative,

the remaining antenme and ' comes grounded.

sponsive to all of said antennae one at a time, and means for successively connecting an operative antenna to said receiving apparatus as successive connected. antennae are 4. In a wireless receiving system, a re ceiving apparatus, a plurality of antennas, one of said antenna being operatively connected to. said receiving apparatus and the remaining antenna disconnected from said receiving apparatus, and means rendered operative by said connected antenna becom ing grounded to operatively connect one of with said receiving circuit.

5. In a Wireless receiving system, a receiving apparatus, an antenna operatively con nected to said receiving apparatus, a compression wave receiving apparatus, a compression Waveresponsivc device, and means rendered operative by said antenna becoming grounded to operatively connect said compression Wave responsivedevice to said compression wave receiving apparatus.

6. ln a wireless receiving system, a plurality of antennae, a receiving apparatus rcsponsive to all of said antennae one at a time, means including an automatically operated switch for connecting one antenna to said receivin apparatus in place of another: antenna.

7. In a Wireless receiving system, a plurality of antenna, a receiving apparatus responsive to all of said antennae one at a time, means, normally connecting one antenna to said receiving apparatus to re ceive signals, and magnet controlled means rendered operative by the grounding of said connected antenna for connecting another of said antennae to said receiving apparatus.

8.. In a Wireless receiving system, a plurality of antennae, a receiving apparatus responsive to all of said antennae one at a time, and means including a plurality of v separately operativeautomatic switches for successively connecting an'ope-ra'tive antenna to said receiving apparatus as successive connected antennae are rendered inoperative.

9. In a Wireless receiving system, a receiving apparatus, an antenna connected to said receiying apparatus, a compression Wave receiving apparatus, a compression Wave responsive device, and means including a magnet controlled switch for automatically connecting said compression wave responsive device to said compression Wave receiving" apparatus when. said antenna beill. in a system for the vradio dynamic control of a movable body at. a distance, a plurality of means positioned on said. body and exposed to radiant energy oscillations, contrcliapparatus common to said plurality. and automatic means for ntercom e- 7 oil said first mentioned means.

pparatus operable upon the disabling of said first named means to change the actions of said control apparatus to a. dili'erent one of said first named means.

11. In a system of radio dynamic control of a movable body, a plurality of antennae positioned on said body, control apparatus normally operatively connected with a single one of said antennae, and automatic means operable upon the disabling of said antenna to connect the control apparatus to another one of said antennae.

12. In a system of distant control by radiant energy, a plurality of antennae for the reception of radiant energy, control apparatus constructed to be responsive to radiant energy received by any one of said antennae and a series circuit including contacts for each of said antenna: whereby the control apparatus is connected to only one of said antennae and including mechanism automatically operated by the disabling of an antenna to disconnect said antennafrom said series circuit.

13. In a system of distant control by radiant energy, a plurality of aminnae for the reception of radiant energy, control apparatus constructed to be responsive to radiant energy received by any one of said antennae and a series circuit including contacts for each of said antennae whereby the control apparatus is connected to only one of said antennae and including a source of energy for actuating said automatically operated mechanism.

In a system of distant control by radiant energy, a plurality of antennas for the reception of radiant energy, control apparatus constructed to e responsive to radiant energy received by any one of said antennae and a series circuit including contacts for each of said antennm whereby the control apparatus is connected to only one of said antennae and including a source of energy for actuating said automatically operated mechanism, and a shunt path for radio currents bridging said source of energy.

15. In asystem of telcdynamic control, a receiving circuit comprising a single detecting means for detecting radiant energy, a plurality of antenna interposed to the action of radiant oscillations in the ether and a series circuit whereby said detecting means to said control a is automatically connected only to an operative antenna.

1,6. In a system of radio dynamic control, of a, movable body,

a plurality of antennae body, control apparatus normally operatively connected with a sin gle one of said antennae, means associated with each of said antennaev arranged to be inactive during the normal operation of the system and automatically actuated when the respective antenna becomes grounded, and

a source ofener common to said antennae for actuating sai normally inactive means.

17 In a system of radio dynamic control, of a movable body, a plurality of antennae positioned on said body, control apparatus normally operatively connected with a single one of said antennae, means associated with each of said antennae arranged to be inactive during the normal operation of the system and automatically actuated when the respective antenna becomes grounded, and a. grounded source of energy common to said antennae for actuating said normally inactive means.

18. In a system of radio dynamic con trol, of a movable body plurality of an tennze positioned on said body, control apparatus .norntially operatively connected with a single one of said antennm, means associated with each of said antennae arranged to be inmiivedurjng the normal operation of the systemaian automatically actuated when the respective antenna becomes grounded, a grounded source of energy com. mon to said antennae for actuating said normally inactive means, and a shunt path for currents of radio frequency abridging said normally inactive means.

19. In a wireless receiving system, a plurality of antennae, a receiving apparatus responsive to all of said antennae one at a time and means including an electro-magnetic element for successively connecting an operative antenna to said receiving appara tus as successively connected antennae are rendered inoperative.

20. In a wireless receiving system, a receiving apparatus, a plurality oit antennae, one of said antennae being operatively connected to said receiving apparatus, the remaining antennae normally remaining disconnected from said receiving apparatus and means including an chaotic-magnetic element rendered operative upon said con nected antenna becoming groundedfor operatively connecting one of the other oft-said antenna with said receiving apparatus.

21. In a wireless receiving system a receiving apparatus, a plurality of antennae, one of said antennae being operatively connecte to said receiving apparatus, the remain g antennae normally remaining disconnected from said receiving apparatus 1 and means including an electro-magnetic element rendered operative upon said connected antenna becoming grounded for operatively connecting a successive one of said antennae with said receiving apparatus.

22. In a wireless receiving system,a receiving apparatus, an antenna operatively connected to said receiving apparatus, a compressional wave, receiving apparatusa compressional wave responsive denies, and means rer dered operative by said antenna ming grounded to operatively connect LII said compressional wave responsive device to said compressional wave receiving apparatus.

In a wireless receiving system, a receivin, apparatus, an antenna operativelv connected to said receiving compressional wave receiving apparatus, a compressional Wave responsive device and means including an electromagnetic ele apparatus, a

ment rendered operative by said antennae becoming grounded to -,operatively connect, said compressional Wave responsive device to said compressional were receiving apparatus.

Signed at Gloucester county of Essex, State of Massachusetts, tile 2n'dday of July,

JOHN HAYS HAIWMO'ND, J R. 

